Three days after he was named as an accused in a case registered over the “unnatural death” of a civil contractor, Karnataka minsiter KS Eshwarappa submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, last evening. Eshwarappa who was Karnataka rural development and Panchayat Raj minister in the cabinet had said that he was quitting “to prevent embarrassment to the BJP”.
The former chief minister of the state and a powerful BC leader in the state BJP, he was forced to resign over allegations of bribery and subsequent contractor suicides. He announced his resignation last Thursday. On Friday, he met Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. After that he submitted his resignation letter.
However, he said that he had nothing to do with the death of the contractor named Santosh Patil. Earlier this week, the chief minister said Ishwarappa would take a final decision on his resignation after receiving a preliminary report from the police. However, he resigned before the police report could be made.
After submitting his resignation, KS Ishwarappa said, “Whether it is suicide or murder. This needs to be properly investigated. It’s not my fault. The real culprit must be found and punished. If it continues to be murder, the culprits must be punished. If I am guilty of even one percent, my family goddess will punish me. ”
Ishwarappa also gave reasons for resigning as a minister before leaving his hometown Shivamogga for Bangalore. He said, “I do not want to cause any problems to the top leaders and well-wishers of the party. So I will meet the Chief Minister in the afternoon and submit my resignation. I believe I am innocent. “
He said that he was setting a precedent for the BJP workers too. The rest of us will understand that they will not be able to stay in power until they prove their innocence. “
Karnataka Cheif Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday accepted state minister KS Eshwarappa’s resignation. He said, “I have accepted Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa’s resignation, will send it to the Governor.”
However, Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar called for Eshwarappa’s arrest, saying that resignation was not enough. “Resignation is not a solution. A case of corruption has to registered, then he has to be arrested,” he said.
CM Bommai said there was no need for the Opposition to become an investigation officer or judge in the case. Accusing the Congress of hypocrisy, Bommai added, “Was K J George (Minister during Congress rule who was blamed by a police officer before committing suicide) arrested by the Congress government? Neither the Karnataka police nor the CBI had arrested him, despite the NDA government at the Centre. Police will decide if they need to arrest or not.”
Meanwhile, former BJP minister Ramesh Jarkiholi claimed that a group of people, including “a Mahanayak”, involved in a 2021 attempt at framing him in a rape case were behind the contractor’s death.
“I will be holding a press conference on Monday and I will expose details of what happened in the lead up to the death of Santhosh Patil. The same team that was involved in my case is involved in this conspiracy against Eshwarappa. We will discuss with the party high command and speak,” the BJP MLA said in Belagavi after visiting Patil’s family to offer condolences.
